Cornish Mutual supports 2012 Olympic hopeful

Cornish Mutual is helping a 23 year old athlete from Penzance to work towards her dream of competing in the London 2012 Olympics.

Sprint kayaker Kerry Blewett has received a bursary of almost £500 from the insurer, based in Truro, through the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for Youth in Cornwall.  This will help towards the costs associated with rising to the top of her sport.

Kerry is on the fast track to greatness after taking part in the ‘Girls4 Gold’ programme run by UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport to identify highly competitive sportswomen, with the potential to become Olympic champions. 

Despite having never even sat in a kayak before the beginning of 2009, Kerry was one of four women out of an initial group of 900 to be selected to train for the London 2012 Olympics in canoe disciplines.

In preparation to become one of the country’s top kayakers, Kerry receives intensive training on a full-time basis at the National Watersports Centre at Holme Pierrepont, near Nottingham. The support from Cornish Mutual will help with costs of buying additional kit for winter training.

Alan Goddard, Managing Director for Cornish Mutual, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to work with the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund to find such a deserving beneficiary of our bursary.  Kerry is an inspirational young woman with her sights firmly fixed on flying the flag for Cornwall and striving for medals at the London 2012 Olympics. I’m pleased that we can play a part in helping her on her path toward achieving her potential.”

Speaking about the significance of the funding, Kerry Blewett said: “I feel honoured that the Lord Lieutenant’s Fund for Youth has recognised my talent by awarding the Cornish Mutual bursary to me. I’m totally committed to giving everything that I’ve got to my dream of representing my country at the Olympics and the additional kit will help me maximise my training during the colder weather and help with living expenses while I’m away from home.”

Lady Mary Holborow, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, added: “There are some extremely talented young people in the county with bright futures ahead of them, but sadly the costs associated with training, travel, equipment and competitions can prevent some young people from reaching their potential. The generosity of companies like Cornish Mutual can make a real difference to the futures of gifted young individuals and I’m delighted the fund has been able to support another Olympic hopeful from Cornwall.”